< Proverbs 3 >
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart:
Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.
Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
7 Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
9 Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thy increase:
Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.
kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.
Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
14 For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold.
kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.
Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honor.
Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace.
Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
18 She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
21 My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
22 So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: but thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do [it].
Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
28 Say not to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.
Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
32 For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.
kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
33 The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.